Sheet feeding apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to apparatus for feeding sheets of paper from a delivery position and comprises means for mechanically locking of the rollers which transport the paper when a sheet of paper is absent from, or is misaligned in, the delivery position. The apparatus comprises a paper-sensing device, which is operated by depressing a plunger. The movement of the sensing device is arrested by the presence of a duly located sheet of paper in the delivery position and, when such a sheet is present, the motion of the plunger causes a locking pin to be disengaged from a notch, thus enabling the feed rollers to rotate so as to feed a single sheet of paper from the delivery position. The provision of means for mechanically locking the sheet feeding means when a sheet is absent or is misaligned enables the invention to be distinguished from known arrangements where the absence of such a locking device may give rise to disruption of work flow, waste of materials and, possibly, damage to the apparatus.

United States Patent lnventor Edric Raymond Brooke Bishops, Statford, England App]. No. 834,657 Filed June 19, 1969 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee English Numbering Machines Limited Enfield, Middlesex, England Priority July 19, 1968 Great Britain 35495/68 SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts Anomey-Nolte and Nolte ABSTRACT: This invention relates to apparatus for feeding sheets of paper from a delivery position and comprises means for mechanically locking of the rollers which transport the paper when a sheet of paper is absent from, or is misaligned in, the delivery position. The apparatus comprises a papersensing device, which is operated by depressing a plunger. The movement of the sensing device is arrested by the presence of a duly located sheet of paper in the delivery position and, when such a sheet is present, the motion of the plunger causes a locking pin to be disengaged from a notch, thus enabling the feed rollers to rotate so as to feed a single sheet of paper from the delivery position.

The provision of means for mechanically locking the sheet feeding means when a sheet is absent or is misaligned enables the invention to be distinguished from known arrangements where the absence of such a locking device may give rise to disruption of work flow. waste of materials and, possibly, damage to the apparatus.

PATENTEDOBT 5m 3,610,576

SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR EDRIC RAYMOND BROOKE ATTORNEYS SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in sheet-feeding apparatus and especially to sheet-feeding apparatus for feeding single sheets of paper during each operational cycle. A fresh cycle may be initiated by the operator after each sheet has been fed.

A disadvantage of previously known sheet-feeding apparatus is that such apparatus may be operated even though a sheet of material has not been placed in the sheet-feeding channel of the apparatus. The operation of such sheet-feeding apparatus in these circumstances is likely to cause disruption of the flow of work and wastage of effort. In some circumstances the operation of the apparatus in the absence of a sheet to be fed may even result in damage to the apparatus. Also, particularly where partially preprinted sheets are employed, it may be necessary for the sheet to be fed to be inserted in the apparatus with a particular orientation. If the sheet is not correctly orientated or is misaligned, the sheet may have to be discarded after being processed. This results in a waste of time and materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved sheet-feeding apparatus wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are substantially reduced.

According to the present invention, there is provided sheetfeeding apparatus comprising feeding means and sensing means, wherein the feeding means is operable to feed a sheet of material from a delivery position and the sensing means is responsive to the absence of a sheet duly located in the delivery position to prevent the operation of the feeding means.

An advantage of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention is the provision of means for preventing the operation of the sheet-feeding means when a sheet is absent or is misaligned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of sheet-feeding apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line IIII of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown a sheet-feeding apparatus for feeding a single sheet paper in each operational cycle, a fresh cycle may be initiated by the operator after each sheet has been fed. The apparatus comprises a sheet-feeding channel 1, the boundaries of which are formed by two adjacent members 2 and 3, between which the sheet to be fed is inserted. The sheet then protrudes from the bottom of the channel 1 and is gripped between pairs of feeding rollers 4, 5. The sheet to be fed is located between two adjustable paper stops 5 only one being shown in FIG. 2, provided with locking screws 52 the ends of which engage in a longitudinal slot in the member 3. The vertical position of the sheet within the channel 1 is determined by the engagement of its lower edge with the feeding rollers 4, 5. Thus, the sheet to be fed is duly located in a delivery position within the channel 1. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus is used for printing information on to the sheet while it is being fed by the pairs of rollers 4, 5, although it is to be understood that the sheet could be subjected to other types of processing. The apparatus is such that one sheet is completely fed from the delivery position through the processing position for every revolution of the roller 5 and, since it is not required or desirable that the roller 5 should feed with the whole of its surface, it is provided with cut back portions 6 and raised feeding portions 7. The rollers 5 are mounted for rotation on a shaft 8 which also carries print receptacles 9 which carry the information to be printed on the sheet. The shaft 8 acts as the main driving shaft and extends through a frame member 49 at its right-hand end FIG. 1 on which extension portion it carries a disc cam 10 fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. The shaft 8 may be driven by means of an electric motor ll by way of reduction gearing l2 and a gear wheel 13 meshing with a further gear wheel 14 mounted on the shaft 8. Alternatively, the shaft 8 may be driven directly by means of a hand wheel 16 mounted on the shaft 8 and operated by way of a knob 17. The shaft 8 is provided with a spring or other suitable ratchet, such as shown at 54, to prevent reverse operation of the apparatus. The rollers 4 of the roller pairs 4, 5 are also driven from the gear wheel 14 by means of gears not shown. As it can be seen clearly in FIG. 2, the profile of the cam 10 is mainly circular in form but has an inwardly directed radially extending notch 20 and a flat 21. A pin 23 is provided carried on one end of an arm 24 pivoted at its other end to the frame member 49 by a pin 25. The arm 24, between its ends, is pivotally attached at 26 to one member 27 of a toggle linkage 27, 28. The lever 27 is pivoted to the lever 28 at 29 and at this point is engaged by a member 30 attached to an operator's press button 31 mounted on a vertical sliding member 32. The other end of the lever 28 is pivoted at 34 to a lever arm 36 pivoted to the frame member 49 at 37 and carrying for movement therewith a paper-sensing member 39.

The paper-sensing member 39 is provided with two feeler member projections 40, of which one is shown in FIG. 2, which extend into apertures 42 in the member 2, the member 3 being provided with similar sized apertures 44 which are aligned with the corresponding apertures 42.

The locking pin 23 is biased into engagement with the cam profile by means of a spring 45 acting on the arm 27 of the toggle linkage 27, 28 and when removed from the profile of the disc cam 10 as will be described, by means of the operator's pushbutton 31, it will engage the operating lever 46 of a microswitch 47 controlling the operation of the motor I 1.

Thus, the press button 31, the vertically sliding member 32 and the member 30 form a plunger means which must be depressed to initiate each operational cycle of the rotatable sheet feeding means. The operation, which is initiated in response to a depression of the plunger, is controlled as a result of the interconnection, by means of the toggle linkage 27, 28, between the locking pin 23 and the sensing member 39. The control is so exercised that the sheet feeding means is locked against rotation when the sensing member 39 detects the absence of a duly located sheet in the delivery position of the apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described:

With the apparatus in the position as shown, a sheet of paper to be fed is placed in the channel 1 between the paper stops 51 and protrudes from the bottom of the channel so as to be engageable by the pairs of rollers 4, 5. Thus, the sheet to be fed is duly located in a delivery position. The operator's pushbutton 31 is then depressed, pushing downwardly the cam member 30 and pushing downwardly the pivot 29 of the toggle linkage 27, 28. This causes the lever arm 36 to pivot anticlockwise and pushes the feeler member projections 40 of the sensing member 39 against the surface of the sheet. The engagement between the feeler member projections 40 and the surface of the sheet prevents any further movement of the sensing device 39 and, hence, of the arm 28.

The downward movement of the pivot 29 is thereafter impatted to the link 27 which, acting against the spring 45, pushes the lever 24 clockwise about the pivot 25 and thus moves the pin 23 out of the radially extending notch 20 in the profile of the cam 10. While the follower 23 engages the notch 20, it prevents rotation of the cam 10 and hence of the sheetfeeding means. Thus, the locking pin 23 cooperating with the profile of the cam 10 form a lacking means for lacking the sheet-feeding means. On leaving the notch 20 and thus releasing the cam 10, the pin 23 engages the lever 46 of the microswitch 47 and causes operation of the motor to drive the shaft 8 in the direction of the arrow 50 (FIG. 2). If the operators button 31 is released at this moment, the pin 23 follows the contour of the cam profile under the action of the spring 45. Movement of the pin 23 along the flat 21 moves the sensing member 39 a short distance to the left (FIG. 2). This movement is transmitted through the toggle linkage 27, 28, and results in the feeler members 40 disengaging from the surface of the sheet so as to prevent friction between the feeler members and the sheet while the sheet is being fed.

The operational cycle of the apparatus then continues until the cam has made a full revolution, during which time the paper sheet is fed past the printing apparatus comprising the print receptacles 9 and is printed. At the end of the revolution of the cam 10, the pin 23 follows the cam profile into the notch 20, thus preventing further rotation of the shaft 8 and disengaging the end of the arm 24 from the lever 46 of the microswitch 47 to deenergize the motor 11. The machine is then ready for the insertion of a further sheet.

If the operators button 31 is depressed when no sheet is located in the delivery position 1, the pivot 29 of the toggle linkage 27, 28 is pushed downwardly as before but the movement of the pivot is transmitted to the sensing member 39 which then moves anticlockwise and causes the feeler members 40 to pass across the channel l to enter the openings 44 in the member 3, the spring 45 retaining the arm 24 stationary and the whole movement of the operators button being taken up by the movement of the sensing member 39. In this way, the machine remains locked and therefore cannot operate in the absence of the sheet to be printed.

If the operators button is depressed and then held in this position and a sheet is present in the delivery position in channel 1, the sequence of operations will be, in the main, as previously described. However, when the pin 23 reenters the notch in the cam profile, the feeler member projections 40 of the sensing member 39 will be moved, through motion transmitted by the toggle linkage, to project across the channel 1 and enter the openings 44 in the member 3. No further sheet can then be duly located in the delivery position in channel 1 until the operators button 31 is released to withdraw the feeler members 40 from the openings 44 and no further operation of the mechanism can take place.

If there is a failure of power to the apparatus, or for any other reason it is desired to operate the apparatus manually, this may be carried out by turning the hand wheel 16 by means of the knob 17 FIG. 1. The operation in this case is exactly the same as for the motor drive. Because of the insertion of the pin 23 into the notch 20 in the profile of the cam 10, the apparatus can not be operated, even by the hand wheel, until the depression of the operators button 31 takes place and, the presence of a sheet in the delivery position in the channel 1 is sensed by the feelers 40 of the sensing member 39.

The sensing member 39 has been shown having a two feeler member projections 40 engaging in two apertures 42. The number of projections and apertures 42 used will depend upon the thickness and strength of the paper being used. Thus, the thinner or the weaker the paper the more feeler member projections and corresponding apertures will be needed in order to prevent damage to the paper. The sensing member 39, if appropriately positioned may, with appropriately punched sheets, sense also that the sheet is positioned in the delivery position of the apparatus the right way around. It will also sense the alignment of the sheet and detect sheets which are too short and which are inserted into the delivery position of the apparatus away from the end of the channel 1 having the sensing device. Thus, the operation of the rotatable sheetfeeding means remains locked so that it cannot be operated if a sheet is not present, or is not duly located, in the apparatus.

lclaim:

1. Sheet-feeding apparatus comprising in combination:

a supporting frame;

sheet-locating means defining a delivery position in said frame; cyclically operable sheet-feeding means mounted on said frame to feed a single sheet of material from said delivery position on each operational cycle of said sheet feeding means;

sheet-sensing means mounted on said frame in juxtaposition to said delivery position to sense the presence of a sheet of material duly located at said delivery position;

locking means mechanically locking said sheet-feeding means and including a locking member selectably disengageably therefrom to release said sheet-feeding means, thereby rendering the latter operative;

selectively depressible plunger means; first coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said sensing means; second coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said locking member; and

interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coupling means;

said first coupling means being responsive to displacement of said plunger means to displace said sensing means towards said delivery position; said sensing means on displacement of said plunger means being responsive to the presence of a duly located sheet of material at said delivery position to transmit a response via said first coupling means and said interconnecting means to said second coupling means; said second coupling means being responsive to said response from said sensing means and to further displacement of said plunger means to displace said locking member to disengage said locking means only when said duly located sheet is present, thereby releasing said locking means and permitting said sheetfeeding means to perform one operational cycle. 2. Sheet-feeding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a double-limbed angle lever pivotally mounted on said frame and at least one feeler member attached to a first limb of said angle lever; said first coupling means comprises a first arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to a second limb of said angle lever and engaging said plunger means at the respective other end thereof;

said locking member comprises a support arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said frame and supporting a locking pin at the respective other end thereof;

said second coupling means comprises a second arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to a point on said support arm intermediate the ends thereof, and the other end thereof engaging said plunger means; and said interconnecting means comprises a pin member interconnecting the respective other ends of said first and second arms; whereby said at least one feeler member is restrained from displacement through said delivery position in response to said further displacement of said plunger means, on a duly located sheet being present at said delivery position.

3. Sheet-feeding apparatus as defined in claim I, wherein said sheet-feeding means is rotatable, said locking means comprises a disc cam attached to said sheet-feeding means and rotatable therewith, and said locking member comprises a locking pin cooperating with the profile of said disc cam and resiliently urged in contact therewith, and wherein said locking pin engages a radially extending notch in said profile after each complete revolution of said disc cam and disengages said notch only when said sensing means is displaced towards said delivery position and said response is not transmitted.

4. Sheet-feeding apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein a portion of said profile is so disposed that engagement between said locking pin and said portion transmits an impulse to said sensing means via said first and second coupling means on said locking pin disengaging said notch, said impulse withdrawing said sensing means from said delivery position.

5. Sheet-feeding apparatus comprising, in combination, a supporting frame;

sheet-locating means defining a delivery portion in said frame;

rotatable sheet-feeding means mounted on said frame;

an electric motor mounted on said frame and coupled to said sheet-feeding means to rotate the latter cyclically to feed a single sheet of material from said delivery position on each revolution of said sheet-feeding means;

sheet-sensing means mounted on said frame in juxtaposition to said delivery position to sense the presence of a sheet of material duly located at said delivery position;

locking means comprising a disc cam attached to said sheetfeeding means and rotatable therewith, and a locking pin cooperating with the profile of said disc cam and resiliently urged in contact therewith, said locking pin selectably engaging a radially extending notch in said profile to lock said disc cam to render said sheet-feeding means nonrotatable, selectively depressible plunger means;

first coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said sensing means;

second coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said locking pin;

interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coupling means;

a microswitch mounted on said frame in proximity to said locking pin;

said first coupling means being responsive to displacement of said plunger means to displace said sensing means towards said delivery position;

said sensing means being responsive to the presence of a duly located sheet of material at said delivery position to transmit a response via said first coupling means and said interconnecting means to said second coupling means;

said second coupling means being responsive to said response from said sensing means and to further displacement of said plunger means to disengage said locking pin from said notch only when a duly located sheet is present at said delivery position, and said microswitch being responsive to the movement of said locking pin on disengaging said notch to render said electric motor operative.

6. Sheet-feeding apparatus comprising in combination:

a supporting frame;

sheet-locating means defining a sheet-feeding channel in said frame;

cyclically operable sheet-feeding means mounted on said frame to feed a single sheet of material through said feeding channel on each operational cycle of said sheet-feeding means;

sheet-sensing means mounted on said frame in juxtaposition to said feeding channel to sense the presence of a sheet of material duly located therein;

locking means mechanically locking said sheet-feeding means and including a locking member selectably disengageably therefrom to release said sheet-feeding means, thereby rendering the latter operative;

selectively depressible plunger means;

first coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said sensing means;

second coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said locking member; and

interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coupling means;

said first coupling being responsive to displacement of said plunger means to displace said means towards said feeding channel;

said sensing means on displacement of said plunger means being responsive to the presence of a duly located sheet of material in said feeding channel to transmit a response via said first coupling means and said interconnecting means to said second coupling means;

said second coupling means being responsive to said response from said sensing means and to further displacement of said plunger means to displace said locking member to disengage said locking means only when said duly located sheet is present, thereby releasing said locking means and permitting said sheet-feeding means to perform one operational cycle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,610, 576 Dat d October 5 1971 Inventor(s) Edrlc y n Brooke It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [31] "35495/68" should read Signed and sealed this 8th day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLE'ICI-IER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM po'mso USCOMM-DC 60376-PB9 a U S GOVERNMENT PRINTING DFFICE IOQ 0-356334. 

1. Sheet-feeding apparatus comprising in combination: a supporting frame; sheet-locating means defining a delivery position in said frame; cyclically operable sheet-feeding means mounted on said frame to feed a single sheet of material from said delivery position on each operational cycle of said sheet feeding means; sheet-sensing means mounted on said frame in juxtaposition to said delivery position to sense the presence of a sheet of material duly located at said delivery position; locking means mechanically locking said sheet-feeding means and including a locking member selectably disengageably therefrom to release said sheet-feeding means, thereby rendering the latter operative; selectively depressible plunger means; first coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said sensing means; second coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said locking member; and interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coupling means; said first coupling means being responsive to displacement of said plunger means to displace said sensing means towards said delivery position; said sensing means on displacement of said plunger means being responsive to the presence of a duly located sheet of material at said delivery position to transmit a response via said first coupling means and said interconnecting means to said second coupling means; said second coupling means being responsive to said response from said sensing means and to further displacement of said plunger means to displace said locking member to disengage said locking means only when said duly located sheet is present, thereby releasing said locking means and permitting said sheetfeeding means to perform one operational cycle.
 2. Sheet-feeding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a double-limbed angle lever pivotally mounted on said frame and at least one feeler member attached to a first limb of said angle lever; said first coupling means comprises a first arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to a second limb of said angle lever and engaging said plunger means at the respective other end thereof; said locking member comprises a support arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said frame and supporting a locking pin at the respective other end thereof; said second coupling means comprises a second arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to a point on said support arm intermediate the ends thereof, and the other end thereof engaging said plunger means; and said interconnecting means comprises a pin member interconnecting the respective other ends of said first and second arms; whereby said at least one feeler member is restrained from displacement through said delivery position in response to said further displacement of said plunger means, on a duly located sheet being present at said delivery position.
 3. Sheet-feeding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet-feeding means is rotatable, said locking means comprises a disc cam attached to said sheet-feeding means and rotatable therewith, and said locking member comprises a locking pin cooperating with the profile of said disc cam and resiliently urged in contact therewith, and wherein said locking pin engages a radially extending notch in said profile after each complete revolution of said disc cam and disengages said notch only when said sensing means is displaced towards said delivery position and said response is not transmitted.
 4. Sheet-feeding apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein a portion of said profile is so disposed that engagement between said locking pin and said portion transmits an impulse to said sensing means via said first and second coupling means on said locking pin disengaging said notch, said impulse withdrawing said sensing means from said delivery position.
 5. Sheet-feeding apparatus comprising, in combination, a supporting frame; sheet-locating means defining a delivery portion in said frame; rotatable sheet-feeding means mounted on said frame; an electric motor mounted on said frame and coupled to said sheet-feeding means to rotate the latter cyclically to feed a single sheet of material from said delivery position on each revolution of said sheet-feeding means; sheet-sensing means mounted on said frame in juxtaposition to said delivery position to sense the presence of a sheet of material duly located at said delivery position; locking means comprising a disc cam attached to said sheet-feeding means and rotatable therewith, and a locking pin cooperating with the profile of said disc cam and resiliently urged in contact therewith, said locking pin selectably engaging a radially extending notch in said profile to lock said disc cam to render said sheet-feeding means nonrotatable, selectively depressible plunger means; first coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said sensing means; second coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said locking pin; interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coupling means; a microswitch mounted on said frame in proximity to said locking pin; said first coupling means being responsive to displacement of said plunger means to displace said sensing means towards said delivery position; said sensing means being responsive to the presence of a duly located sheet of material at said delivery position to transmit a response via said first coupling means and said interconnecting means to said second coupling means; said second coupling means being responsive to said response from said sensing means and to further displacement of said plunger means to disengage said locking pin from said notch only when a duly located sheet is present at said delivery position, and said microswitch being responsive to the movement of said locking pin on disengaging said notch to render said electric motor operative.
 6. Sheet-feeding apparatus comprising in combination: a supporting frame; sheet-locating means defining a sheet-feeding channel in said frame; cyclically operable sheet-feeding means mounted on said frame to feed a single sheet of material through said feeding channel on each operational cycle of said sheet-feeding means; sheet-sensing means mounted on said frame in juxtaposition to said feeding channel to sense the presence of a sheet of maTerial duly located therein; locking means mechanically locking said sheet-feeding means and including a locking member selectably disengageably therefrom to release said sheet-feeding means, thereby rendering the latter operative; selectively depressible plunger means; first coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said sensing means; second coupling means intercoupling said plunger means and said locking member; and interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coupling means; said first coupling being responsive to displacement of said plunger means to displace said means towards said feeding channel; said sensing means on displacement of said plunger means being responsive to the presence of a duly located sheet of material in said feeding channel to transmit a response via said first coupling means and said interconnecting means to said second coupling means; said second coupling means being responsive to said response from said sensing means and to further displacement of said plunger means to displace said locking member to disengage said locking means only when said duly located sheet is present, thereby releasing said locking means and permitting said sheet-feeding means to perform one operational cycle. 